As a participant in this battle, Zhao was defeated by Qin at the cost of 450 thousand casualties. Maybe many people will be curious about one thing. The casualties of 450,000 troops were almost the foundation of a country at that time. So why did Zhao not only survive after the battle of Changping, but also lived for more than 40 years?
Qin Jun wiped out 450,000 troops in the battle of Changping, which was almost equivalent to total annihilation. Under such a huge loss, Zhao was not destroyed. What was the total strength of Zhao at that time?
In fact, Zhao left with a sigh of relief at that time, but this time he chose to retreat and did not win Zhao at high altitude, which is a bit strange. Let's analyze it with historical facts.
First of all, let's introduce the historical background of the battle of Changping. At the end of the Warring States period, Qin had become a superpower during the Warring States period through a series of reform measures such as Shang Yang's political reform. The powerful state of Qin tried to annex the eastern countries through war. As a neighbor of Qin, South Korea naturally became the first target.
In 264 BC, the year after Zhao Haoqi Cheng Xiao, Qin Jun led an army to attack South Korea. Naturally, the weak South Korea can't be the opponent of the powerful Qin State, so it can only ask Zhao for help and surrender, which intensifies the contradiction between Qin State and Zhao State.
General Qin led the battle of Changping with General Zhao Lian Po. At first, because Lian Po couldn't hold on, and Zhao was neck and neck, the two sides were at loggerheads for a long time. However, by spreading rumors, Qin Jun replaced Lian Po with Zhao Guojun and sent an armchair Zhao Kuo to fight against Qin Jun. As a result, he made a light attack.
The generals of the State of Qin laid an ambush and surrounded the army of Zhao Kuo, cutting off the route for providing foodstuff for the army of Zhao Kuo. Zhao was besieged for 46 days, food and grass were cut off and Zhao Kuo was shot.
Leitian got 450,000 troops from Zhao. After leitian, he thought that Zhao Bing was unfaithful and killed all Zhao's surrender troops. Zhao declined. So why not attack and destroy Zhao?
It's not that Qin didn't want to, but he couldn't do it after the battle of Changping.
First, although the battle of Changping was won, Qin Jun also suffered heavy losses.
In ancient times, most operations were dominated by cold weapons. In the era of cold weapons, many soldiers met each other, and both sides of the war suffered a lot of casualties. Although Zhao was defeated by strategy in the battle of Changping, Ye Zhao fought to the death.
Although Zhao lost 450 thousand soldiers, he also lost 300 thousand troops. This also hurt the state of Qin, and it has reached the point where it is necessary to retreat. If we continue to attack, Qin itself may be beaten by Reservoir Dogs and attacked by other countries. So it's not that he doesn't want to destroy Zhao, but that he can't do it at all.
Second, Zhao and Qin were too far away and lacked food and grass.
Zhao did not perish in the battle of Changping, in fact, there is another particularly important reason, that is, lack of materials. The battle of Changping in Qin Jun lasted for three years. Changping is a place near Zhao and far from Qin, with thousands of miles of logistics supply lines.
The protracted war consumed too much national strength of Qin. After Qin Jun's victory, the supply has been excessive. If we continue to attack Zhao, the supply will be interrupted. In ancient times, the most important thing in marching and fighting was food and grass. If Qin Jun's supply is interrupted, Qin Jun will lose popularity, not to mention attacking the city and plundering the land.
Third, Zhao saved himself, celebrities lobbied Qin, and the people armed against Qin.
After the Battle of Changping, Su Dai, a famous minister of Zhao State, went to Qin State to buy off Fan Ju, the right-hand man of Qin State at that time, and analyzed the advantages and disadvantages of continuing the war in Zhao Qi. Finally, it was successfully persuaded that the failure to attack and destroy Zhao was closely related to the lobbying.
In addition, because Leitian brutally killed 450,000 soldiers of Zhao, the people of Zhao hated it and took the initiative to arm themselves to defend Qin Jun. The general also deeply realized that if he continued to attack at this time, it would not take much advantage under the momentum of Qin Jun, so his army also advocated retreating.
And why did Zhao finally live for more than 40 years?
Since the battle of Changping, the monarch of Zhao has also made great efforts to govern the country, form alliances with foreign countries and appoint talents at home. Therefore, after the Changping Rebellion, Ye Zhao has made great progress.
Coupled with the hostility of various countries to Qin, Qin could not attack when Zhao was weak. Zhao has also been cultivated and lived in time, and with its superior geographical position, Zhao can survive for more than 40 years after the battle of Changping.